"I am on my way to see a customer, but yes I can spare some time. What can I do for you Miss Mundee?" he asked as politely as he could.
Well.....he didn't suddenly make a bolt for it, that was a good sign. So talk it would be.
"Thanks. I happen to read your latest issue and especially the stuff about Lorenzo. I appreciate it. It was real nice...fair even. Lorenzo was no saint, none of us are but if you'da known him like I did. There was good in him too. Bridget proved that. Anyhow..." Caroline paused then held out the bottle toward the man.
" I've learned to just ignore people insultin' me - like you did - it comes with the territory. But when it was Lorenzo's reputation, the only thing he had left ...well, I just saw red. So I also wanna apologize for hittin' you like I did. I was angry but I shouldn't have lost my temper. I was in the wrong," she admitted.
"This is my way of making up for it. It's not some rotgut stuff either, it's fine scotch from back east. And I take back my ...ummm, words about you enterin' the saloon. Yer welcome in anytime you want. "
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Apology accepted, on the condition that you will accept mine. I was far out of line." Phin admitted. "I'd rather not be that person, just a number of things going on with me, and I was wrong to take out not just with you, but in print as well."
"Now I will certainly accept that scotch. As I said I am on my way to see a customer at the barbershop about an add she wants posted. I you would be so kind as to deliver that bottle to the office, Missus Thornton-Carlton will accept it, I'm sure. And perhaps later you might join me for a drink."
"Apology accepted, on the condition that you will accept mine. I was far out of line." Phin admitted. "I'd rather not be that person, just a number of things going on with me, and I was wrong to take out not just with you, but in print as well."
Caroline nodded, she had not come for nor expected his insults of her to have been apologized for but it was welcome none the less.
"Certainly, apology accepted too," she smiled, "Water over the dam as they say."
Now I will certainly accept that scotch. As I said I am on my way to see a customer at the barbershop about an add she wants posted. I you would be so kind as to deliver that bottle to the office, Missus Thornton-Carlton will accept it, I'm sure. And perhaps later you might join me for a drink."
"Right, didn't want to keep you from your business. I will drop it off then. As for that drink, kind of you to offer but I usually only do my drinking in the saloon. My business you see, as you can well understand, " Caroline then stepped aside for the man.
"Good day to you , hon," one last smile and she started down the boardwalk again.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Good day, Miss Mundee." He called after her. Now that had been a pleasant surprise, and perhaps the edition had smoothed over the rift. At least between the two of them, and his initial fear of being bludgeoned with the bottle she carried has proven baseless.
So, ad in hand, Phin continued on toward the barber shop and hopefully a successful conclusion to the advert that Miss Mathews had ordered.
"Go ahead and hang me, it was worth it!"
Under normal circumstances, anyone knowing the snippy and quarrelsome character that Miss Zenobia Matthews had displayed for the span of her life so far would have shown some disquiet at the sight of her furiously stropping a cut-throat razor on a leather strop. They may well, in fact, have imagined that they discerned a murderous glint in her eyes.
On the other hand, the fact that she was stood there sharpening the straight razor in her father's neglected barber shop might have allayed their fears... a little.
The bell above the door tinkled as Mr McVey entered and Zenobia face displayed a hungry, wolfish smile: a rare and unusual replacement for her usual scowl: for Phinn was possessed of something that pretty Miss Matthews dearly wanted to use her murderously sharp razor upon.
"Good Day, Mr McVey, I presume that is the proof copy of my advertisement which you hold in your hands?" she enquired, straight to the point as ever. She continued to strop the blade as she fixed him with her frank gaze.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Good day, Miss Matthews. I have a proof of the ad, and hopefully this is what you had in mind." He said as he entered. "It will be good to have the shop up and running again, seems everyone had had to resort to other methods to have their hair cut. Now there are two, so I will show you both and you can make the choice." He offered and then produced the ads
"They are quite similar the Design is the difference." He added as he displayed the two proofs side by side for her.
"Go ahead and hang me, it was worth it!"
"They are quite similar the Design is the difference." He added as he displayed the two proofs side by side for her.
Zenobia put the razor down and strode up to Phinn, taking the advertisements briskly, only just short of a snatch. The slight turn in her eye was a little bit more noticeable when she was looking at something close up. The brown orbs flicked from one to the other. "The one on the left" she announced, pointing to the desired version, with the slight if ridiculous implication that a newspaper editor wouldn't know left from right "But just 'hot towels' not 'using hot towels' and an apostrophe on the 'barbers' of 'barber's pole'" she instructed shortly. Rather like the local hostiles, Miss Matthews took no prisoners.
"Now please take a seat and I shall give you a free shave and trim, I want to practice." she told the newspaper man; it was clear she expected no refusal as she reached for a bowl and a stick of shaving soap with which she intended to whip up a goodly basinful of creamy foam.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
The word 'using' is there to allow the line of type to be even with the other lines, but if you wish, I will make those adjustments before going to press." He explained, " as for the shave and trim, that would be wonderful and a walking advertisement of you talents with scissors and razor."
He slipped into the chair, this would be a fine break in the day, and a bottle of scotch awaiting his return. This was starting out to be a fine day after all! And this would no doubt improve his appearance for the Town Council meeting in the morning. And, he hoped, a Special Edition to announce the approval of the contract and the lands selected so the hospital project could get underway at long last.
"Go ahead and hang me, it was worth it!"
After he had justified his text addition on the grounds of line justification, Mr McVey added: "... as for the shave and trim, that would be wonderful and a walking advertisement of you talents with scissors and razor."
"I agree." nodded Zenobia, gesturing to the adjustable, metal framed barber's chair.
He slipped into the chair, this would be a fine break in the day, and a bottle of scotch awaiting his return. This was starting out to be a fine day after all! And this would no doubt improve his appearance for the Town Council meeting in the morning. And, he hoped, a Special Edition to announce the approval of the contract and the lands selected so the hospital project could get underway at long last.
The girl-barber threw a towel around her first customer's chest and neck and her small booted foot pumped down on the lever at the bottom of the fixed chair until Phinn was low enough to suit her. "I need to oil that." she said to herself... or to Phinn.
She was determined to do everything to make the venture a success. She pulled out a comb and, rather than yank roughly at Mr McVey's locks, which were starting to thin, she ran the teeth gently through his hair, thinking how she could please him by making him look as hirsute as possible. She would shave him first, she decided and began to softly brush the foam all over his stubbly chin, throat and that awkward bit under his nose.
She had realised something important, all those times she had been in the shop with her father: for many men, a visit to the barber was more than a mere functional process of removing unwanted hair: it was an experience, one that could transform a man's day, and send him out into the world feeling cleaner, smarter, more full of pep and vim and vigour. It was a place to escape, a place of predictable relaxation. Getting that right was as important as actually giving a good shave and a haircut, if not more so.
"Mr McVey. I would like to ask you a question. Do you like a barber to make small talk to you, or do you prefer to be tended to in silence? Would you like me to talk about the weather? Or ask how the newspaper business is going? Or make comments about the latest news??" she asked with genuine interest.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Actually I hadn't really given it much thought." He admitted, "But then it's been some time since I've had the pleasure of a shave and a haircut that I didn't administer myself. But in thinking about it conversation stimulates the mind and quite frankly, is as pleasant a pastime as can be found. Well, that's how I see it, so please if you'd care to pick a subject, I would be delighted."
Phin was enjoying the experience, it had been some time since he had sat for a shave and a haircut. This he might find as something he would do with some regularity.
"Buy the way Miss Mathews, what subjects do you find of interest?" He asked.